Susan Norton

Susan C. Norton joined the City of Fayetteville as Director of Communications and Marketing in June of 2015 after a career in Information Technology management and support. Susan was Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer for Fayetteville Public Schools between 2001-2014, Director of the Office of Information Technology for the State of Arkansas from 1997-2001, and she held various roles at University of Arkansas Computing Services from User Communications Manager to Associate Director between 1980 and 1997. She had a two year break from the U of A as Administrative Assistant to the President of Arkansas Systems between 1986-1988. In 1997, when Susan had the opportunity to establish the new state office that had been enacted by the Arkansas Information Systems Act, she was proud to establish the Arkansas Geographic Information Office. Today in her work with the City of Fayetteville, Susan manages a communications department that handles press releases, the City web sites, the media services department (television studio and government channel), and all branding/marketing efforts. She remains involved with technology through her active work with the MidAmerica GIS Consortium, an educational non-profit that fosters the growth of geospatial systems in a 9 state region.

Susan’s major accomplishments include:

National League of Cities, Information and Technology Communications. Committee Member, January 2016-present. This Committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions on issues involving telecommunications and information systems (and public access to these systems), privacy concerns, cable TV, phone services, spectrum issues, communications tower siting, universal service, broadcasting and defense of city rights-of-way from degradation caused by installation of communications facilities.

Mid-America GIS Consortium. Executive Board, 2008-present. The Mid-America GIS Consortium, Ltd. is a nonprofit educational organization that fosters the growth of geographic information systems (GIS) and related spatial technologies to serve nine states in the region.

National States Geographic Information Council (NSGIC). Member, 2001-present. NSGIC advocate for states in national geospatial policy and initiatives, thereby enabling the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI).

Connect Arkansas. Chair, 2008-2011, Member, 2011-2015. Connect Arkansas was a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the implementation of a community-based initiative to promote fast Internet service for rural areas and increase internet use in education.

Arkansas State Land Information Board. Member, 1997-2003. Chair, 2002-2003. The ASLIB was responsible for the development of the Arkansas Spatial Data Infrastructure and deployment of the GEOStor spatial data clearinghouse within the Arkansas Geographic Information Office.

Electronic Records Study Commission. Chair, 1999-2000. The ERSC was a Legislative study commission charged to develop recommendations for amendments to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, resulting in Act 1653 of 2001, amending the FOIA to enhance citizen access to government records by including new provisions for electronic access.

Interoperability Working Group of the National Electronic Commerce Coordinating Council. Member, 2000-2001. In coordination with the National Governor’s Association, developed “Framework for Digital Signature Reciprocity.”

Susan’s research projects:

A Project to Create a Statewide Academic/Research Network for Arkansas, 1991-1997. Managed the statewide Network Information Center for the Arknet/Internet Project funded by the National Science Foundation.

The Arknet Library Project, 1991 – 1994. Managed grant from the U.S. Department of Education to implement Internet networking in each of the ARKnet participating schools’ libraries.

United States Advisory Council for the National Information Infrastructure, 1994-1996, Staff. Provided support for President Clinton’s Council in development of guidelines for intellectual property, privacy, and security issues for the Internet. Hosted the NIIAC web site at U of A.